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Results for “Digital intervention”

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At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

Estimation of pulmonary artery occlusion pressure by an artificial neural network.

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that an artificial neural network, interconnected computer elements capable of adaptation and learning, could accurately estimate pulmonary artery occlusion pressure from the pulsatile pulmonary artery waveform. SETTING: University medical center. SUBJECTS: Nineteen closed-chest dogs. INTERVENTIONS: Pulmonary artery waveforms were digitally sampled before conventional measurements of pulmonary artery occlusion pressure under control conditions, during infusions of serotonin or histamine, or during volume loading. Individual beats were parsed or separated out. Pulmonary artery pressure, its first time derivative, and the beat duration were used as neural inputs. The neural network was trained by using 80% of all samples and tested on the remaining 20%. For comparison, the regression between pulmonary artery diastolic pressure and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure was developed and tested using the same data sets. As a final test of generalizability, the neural network was trained on data obtained from 18 dogs and tested on data from the remaining dog in a round-robin fashion. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The correlation coefficient between the pulmonary artery diastolic pressure estimate of pulmonary artery occlusion pressure and measured pulmonary artery occlusion pressure was.75, whereas that for the neural network estimate of pulmonary artery occlusion pressure was.97 (p <.01 for difference between pulmonary artery diastolic pressure and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure estimates). The pulmonary artery diastolic pressure estimate of pulmonary artery occlusion pressure showed a bias of 0.097 mm Hg (limits of agreement -7.57 to 7.767 mm Hg), whereas the neural network estimate of pulmonary artery occlusion pressure showed a bias of -0.002 mm Hg (-2.592 to 2.588 mm Hg). There was no significant change in the bias of the neural network estimate over the range of values tested. In contrast, the bias for the pulmonary artery diastolic pressure estimate significantly increased with the increasing magnitude of the pulmonary artery occlusion pressure. During round-robin testing, the neural network estimate of pulmonary artery occlusion pressure showed suboptimal performance (correlation coefficient between estimated and measured pulmonary artery occlusion pressure.59). CONCLUSIONS: A neural network can accurately estimate pulmonary artery occlusion pressure over a wide range of pulmonary artery occlusion pressure under conditions that alter pulmonary hemodynamics. We speculate that artificial neural networks could provide accurate, real-time estimates of pulmonary artery occlusion pressure in critically ill patients.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Time-resolved three-dimensional contrast-enhanced MR angiography of the peripheral vessels.

PURPOSE: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of time-resolved three-dimensional contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) angiography with that of conventional angiography for imaging the lower extremity vasculature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-nine patients who were evaluated for possible surgical intervention underwent conventional angiography (ie, digital subtraction angiography [DSA]) and contrast-enhanced MR angiography (ie, time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics [TRICKS]). Two independent, blinded readers evaluated vessel stenosis and occlusion at DSA and MR angiographic image readings. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were analyzed with repeated-measures analysis of variance. The Cohen kappa test was performed to examine interreader variability. RESULTS: At pooled readings, contrast-enhanced MR angiography had a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 98% for detection of occlusion. For detection of significant stenosis (at least one > or = 50% stenosis), sensitivity and specificity were 77% and 91%, respectively. Interreader agreement was high for detection of both occlusion (kappa = 0.76) and significant stenosis (kappa = 0.68). Sensitivity increased as MR angiographic technical parameters were optimized. When improvements resulting from coil type and injection protocol were considered, the sensitivity and specificity of TRICKS MR angiography were 89% and 97%, respectively, for occlusion detection and 87% and 90%, respectively, for significant stenosis detection. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced TRICKS MR angiography is a feasible and minimally invasive means of acquiring angiograms of the peripheral vasculature with high sensitivity and specificity.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Hypothenar hammer syndrome successfully managed with intravenous prostaglandin E1 and heparin and with correction of the thrombogenic risk profile. A case report.

A fifty-one-year-old man presented with a history, symptoms, and clinical findings typical of a hypothenar hammer syndrome in his dominant hand. A thrombotic obstruction in the distal section of the ulnar artery with multiple downstream occlusions of proper digital arteries were documented angiographically. Coexistence of additional cardiovascular risk factors (smoking-induced polycythemia, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension) was identified. Conservative management with intravenous heparin and prostaglandin E1 together with measures directed at controlling the additional risk factors (repeated venesection, immediate smoking cessation, and low-lipid diet) resulted in a striking clinical and angiographic improvement of the digital perfusion, without resort to interventional measures or thrombolysis.

Alprostadil↗

PubMed1997

Computing patient doses of X-ray examinations using a patient size- and sex-adjustable phantom.

Both the use of traditional fluoroscopy and the increasing use of modern digital techniques in radiology and interventional radiology demand the development of versatile computer programs for patient dose determinations. Long computing times restrict the use of Monte Carlo (MC) methods in dose monitoring applications where the radiological views change frequently. In the Organ Doses Calculation Software application (ODS-60), the phantom model is similar in principle to the Alderson-Rando (A-R) phantom, but its sex, size and shape is modified according to a particular patient. Organ and effective doses are computed online (in a few seconds) using a method similar to the traditional dose planning systems used in radiotherapy. In this paper, the new ODS-60 software is presented in detail and its capabilities are demonstrated. Software performance was determined by comparing the results with those from independent methods. In the case of a reference man-sized male, the effective dose was about 7% larger than the effective dose given in another publication. In the case of a reference woman-sized female, the disagreement with the other method was greater (33%). Anatomical differences between the phantom models (ODS-60 and MC) were found to be the main reasons for these findings. This paper shows the advantage of using a patient size- and sex-adaptable phantom for patient dose determinations; the conversion coefficient from entrance surface dose-to-effective dose ratio between male (170 cm, 85 kg) and a female (160 cm, 43 kg) varies in the range 1.5-2.

Anthropometry↗

PubMed1981

Discriminant arteriographic criteria in the management of forearm and hand ischemia.

Fifty-five patients (33 male and 22 female), 3 to 73 years in age, underwent aortic arch and selective upper extremity arteriography for the evaluation of forearm and hand ischemia from 1971 to 1980. Fifty-one patients had organic occlusive lesions (12 subclavian, 15 axillobrachial, 17 radial-ulnar, and 7 palmar-digital), including distal forearm and hand emboli, as a consequence of proximal occlusive disease in nine patients (5 subclavian, 2 axillobrachial, and 2 radial-ulnar). The remaining four patients had vasospastic disease. Major arteriographic findings of obstructive disease were defined by: morphology of lesions, symmetry or asymmetry of obstructions, segmental versus tandem lesion distribution, and the resultant pattern of collateral circulation. Vasodilatory pharmacoangiography with magnification technique frequently facilitated evaluation of digital and collateral vessels. Therapeutic interventions were dictated by clinical data heavily weighed by the arteriographic examination. Limited arteriographic studies would have been misleading in the evaluation of many patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Pressure-volume relationship in isolated working heart with crystalloid perfusate in swine and imaging the valve motion.

OBJECTIVE: It is widely accepted that both valve and cardiac functions are closely correlated. In order to investigate the relationship between the valve and cardiac functions, we developed a model of an isolated working heart with crystalloid perfusate in swine. We investigated the feasibility of this model to evaluate the precise left ventricular function using the pressure-volume relationship and metabolic measurement. Another objective was as a trial for the imaging and analysis of valvular interventions with a high-speed digital camera on this model. METHODS: Six isolated working hearts were subjected in the pressure-volume study, and additional three hearts were used in the valve imaging study. Measurement of the pressure-volume relationship was undertaken in situ before the heart was removed, and on the working heart mode during the initial 30 min as the baseline, and at every 60 min. Lactate levels were measured at every stage in the working heart mode. Mitral valve interventions were performed in three hearts, and valve motions were observed by a high-speed digital camera via the left ventricle. RESULTS: The end-systolic elastance maintained a baseline level (5.17+/-2.25) until 180 min and decreased at 240 min (3.97+/-1.97, NS) and 300 min (2.85+/-1.29, P<0.01) of the working heart mode as compared with baseline. The Tau maintained a constant level until 180 min and increased at 240 min (62.2+/-13.3, NS) and 300 min (85.5+/-43.4, P<0.05) as compared with baseline (50.3+/-13.6). The slope of the end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship gradually increased with no significance until 180 min and increased significantly (0.147+/-0.066, P<0.01 vs 0.067+/-0.041 at baseline). Lactate increased accumulatively. The total heart energy was reduced from the initial phase of the working heart mode. The valves were well captured by the high-speed digital camera. CONCLUSIONS: The systolic and diastolic functions of an isolated heart were preserved at an acceptable level for 180 min. The practical reliability of the swine working heart model was demonstrated. This model will be used reliably for the investigation of the interaction of valve and cardiac functions.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Are these data real? Statistical methods for the detection of data fabrication in clinical trials.

OBJECTIVES: To test the application of statistical methods to detect data fabrication in a clinical trial. SETTING: Data from two clinical trials: a trial of a dietary intervention for cardiovascular disease and a trial of a drug intervention for the same problem. OUTCOME MEASURES: Baseline comparisons of means and variances of cardiovascular risk factors; digit preference overall and its pattern by group. RESULTS: In the dietary intervention trial, variances for 16 of the 22 variables available at baseline were significantly different, and 10 significant differences were seen in means for these variables. Some of these P values were extraordinarily small. Distributions of the final recorded digit were significantly different between the intervention and the control group at baseline for 14/22 variables in the dietary trial. In the drug trial, only five variables were available, and no significant differences between the groups for baseline values in means or variances or digit preference were seen. CONCLUSIONS: Several statistical features of the data from the dietary trial are so strongly suggestive of data fabrication that no other explanation is likely.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

[Impact of a guiding CT prior to angiographic intervention].

With these two cases we want to demonstrate the additional impact of contrast enhanced multi-detector-row-CT angiography (MDR-CTA) compared to digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for planning of angiographic intervention. In selected cases a pre-interventional CTA can be useful to facilitate angiographic intervention. We selected two patients with different disease entities (bleeding caused by hepatic aneurysmosis; hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prior to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with aberrant arteries) from our collective who underwent CTA prior to angiographic intervention. The CT scans were performed using a 16 channel Multi-Detector-Row-CT (Philips Mx8000 IDT). Both multiplanar reconstructions (MPR) and slab maximum intensity projections (slab MIP) were performed. After CTA, patients underwent angiographic intervention (coil embolisation in the first case, TACE in the second case). MDR-CTA can not only find the cause of hemorrhage but also demonstrate the exact localization of the specific vascular pathology (first case). These findings facilitate the intervention, resulting in decreased table time in the angio suite and a reduction in radiation exposure. The second case illustrates the anatomic detail achievable with MDR-CTA. Even very small aberrant arteries (crucial to the success of TACE) are revealed. These arteries did not show in overview DSA and required superselective catheterization (only performed after MDR-CTA). These cases show that MDR-CTA can provide important informations in planning of interventional procedures.

Aged↗

PubMed2026

Self-selected goals outperform assigned goals in reducing mobile phone usage: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial.

Excessive smartphone use is increasingly recognized as a public-health concern, yet scalable approaches to help individuals regulate daily use remain limited. We examine whether allowing individuals to self-select reduction goals improves behavioral and psychological outcomes when incentives and average goal levels are held constant across conditions. In a twelve-week randomized controlled trial, (N = 149; over 9000 person-day observations), participants were assigned to (i) a self-selected condition (choosing a 10%, 20%, or 30% reduction in daily phone use), (ii) an assigned condition (assigned a 14% reduction goal), or (iii) a no-goal control condition. Participants who selected their own goals reduced phone use by 26 min more per day (73% larger reduction) and achieved their goals 11 percentage points more often than those assigned goals, despite identical incentives and average goal levels. Reductions in phone use and higher goal achievement were associated with improvements in perceived addiction, depressive, and anxiety symptoms. These psychological outcomes were secondary endpoints. Although the between-group estimates generally followed the same directional pattern as the behavioral outcomes, the sample size for these analyses was limited and the between-group differences were not statistically significant. These findings should therefore be interpreted with caution. Overall, the results provide causal field evidence that self-selection under this goal-setting design can improve behavioral outcomes. Allowing individuals to choose their own goals may strengthen engagement and support healthier digital behavior. Incorporating opportunities for goal-selection may represent a simple addition to digital-health and public-health interventions aimed at helping individuals moderate smartphone use and improve well-being.

Humans↗

PubMed2001

The value of digital personal dosemeters in angiography/interventional radiology: preliminary experience.

New interventional procedures tend to involve longer screening times than were hitherto used in radiology. A careful audit of technique and shielding facilities needs to be performed to ensure that patient and operator doses are optimised. This paper explores the use of digital dosemeters to evaluate operator dose. Equipment related parameters, e.g. screening time, dose-area-product (DAP) readings, were not found to be strongly correlated to operator dose. The real time display on the electronic dosemeter is a non-intrusive indicator of the efficacy of operator protection strategies.

Angiography↗

PubMed1999

[Comparison of radiation exposure of patients caused by selected interventional and angiography procedures--initial results].

PURPOSE: To determine and judge patient doses caused by selected interventional and angiographic procedures using the "Multiskip" digital C-arm unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The dose-area product and the fluoroscopic time were measured for 71 percutaneous transluminal angioplasties (PTA), 33 PTA with stent implantation, and 37 embolizations; in addition, they were also measured for 285 digital subtraction angiographies (DSA). In the case of 13 PTA, 10 embolizations, and 33 DSA the number of radiographs was determined, and the dose-area product was divided into two parts, fluoroscopy and radiography, applying a computer programme. RESULTS: The median values of the dose-area product and the fluoroscopic time amounted to 36 Gy cm2 and 11.5 min for PTA, 131 Gy cm2 and 14.4 min for PTA with stent implantation, 197 Gy cm2 and 24.5 min for embolisation as well as 87 Gy cm2 and 3.7 min for DSA. For the relation between dose-area products caused by fluoroscopy and radiography and the number of radiographs, median values of 0.67 and 70 for PTA, 0.58 and 153 for embolisation as well as 1.35 and 135 for DSA were determined. CONCLUSIONS: To reduce the relatively high patient doses the modification of the C-arm unit is aspired to realize pulsed fluoroscopy and automatic filter selection. Also experimental investigations will be done related to additional filtration and reduction of the image intensifier input dose rate and dose per frame, respectively. Then, the effect of dose reduction caused by these measures will be confirmed in a comparable patient study.

Angiography↗

PubMed2026

Post-intervention effectiveness of a computerized personalized cognitive stimulation program adapted according to cognitive reserve in older adults without cognitive impairment in Primary Care: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive reserve may influence responsiveness to cognitive interventions, yet it is rarely used to tailor computerized stimulation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a computerized cognitive stimulation program personalized according to cognitive reserve on cognition, reserve-related activities, and digital competence in community-dwelling older adults without cognitive impairment in Primary Care. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 102 adults aged ≥65 years with normal cognitive performance were recruited from three primary care centers in Zaragoza, Spain, and stratified by cognitive reserve level before random allocation to intervention or control. The intervention comprised digital literacy sessions followed by 8 weeks of home-based computerized cognitive stimulation tailored to participants' cognitive reserve profiles and life history. Controls received a single group-based health education session focused on maintaining everyday cognitive activity. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and post-intervention using global cognition (MEC-35), the Cognitive Reserve Questionnaire, the Mobile Device Proficiency Questionnaire-16, and domain-specific neuropsychological tests. A total of 100 participants completed the final evaluation and were included in complete-case analyses. RESULTS: Compared with controls, the intervention group showed greater adjusted post-intervention improvements in global cognition (MEC-35 between-group difference: 1.8 points) and several cognitive measures, including temporal orientation, calculation, attention, praxis, verbal fluency, processing speed, executive functions, and verbal learning. CRQ scores and digital competence also improved, with small-to-large effect sizes. CONCLUSIONS: A computerized cognitive stimulation program adapted according to cognitive reserve appears feasible in Primary Care and may improve cognition, engagement in reserve-related activities, and digital competence in older adults without cognitive impairment.

Humans↗

PubMed1999

Can brief intervention through community dental care have an effect on adolescent smoking?

BACKGROUND: Community dental clinics are good settings for smoking intervention. The aim here was to put forward a strategy for preventing adolescent smoking by means of a brief intervention. METHODS: A total of 2,586 12-year-olds participated in this follow-up study. They were asked upon arrival for their annual routine dental examination to complete a smoking questionnaire and were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the usual care control group according to the last digit of their date of birth (odd or even). The intervention comprised annually inquiring about smoking, showing photographs of the harmful effects of smoking on the teeth, allowing participants to examine their own mouth with a mirror, and finally counselling them in accordance with their answer to the question on smoking habits. The smoking status reported was not verified by other means. RESULTS: The prevalence of smoking at the end of the 2-year follow-up was 18.1%, in the intervention group and 20.8% among the controls. However, no statistically significant differences between groups were found. CONCLUSIONS: These results reflect the difficulties of achieving successful results with long-term smoking cessation programs with adolescents in unstable conditions.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Radiographic pseudoscoliosis in healthy male subjects following voluntary lateral translation (side glide) of the thoracic spine.

OBJECTIVE: To determine projected Cobb angles associated with trunk list (side shift) posture, hypothesizing that the side shift "scoliotic" curvature would be similar to true scoliotic curvature in the early stages. DESIGN: Anteroposterior (AP) radiographs of volunteers in neutral, in left, and right lateral translations of the thoracic cage (trunk list) were digitized. SETTING: Computer laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen healthy male volunteers. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cobb and Risser-Ferguson angles determined from digitizing vertebral body corners from T12 to L5 on 51 AP lumbar radiographs. RESULTS: Using the horizontal displacement of T12 from S1, subjects could translate an average of 54.0 mm to the left and 52.5 mm to the right. The average digitized Cobb T12-L5 angle produced for the 30 translated postures was 16 degrees. Angles ranged from 2.6 degrees to 27.0 degrees. Risser-Ferguson angles averaged 10 degrees between T12 and L5. Statistical correlations were found between Cobb L1-5 and translation to the left (P=.015), Cobb T12-L5 and translation to the right (P=.024), Risser-Ferguson angle and translation to the left (P=.021), and the lumbosacral angle to the right and trunk translation to the right (P=.027). CONCLUSIONS: During lateral translation of the thorax (trunk list), coupled lumbar lateral flexion resulted in the appearance of a pseudoscoliosis on AP radiographs. For this trunk list posture, Cobb angles are considerable (16 degrees ) and increase as the magnitude of trunk translation increases. Differentiating true structural scoliosis from this pseudoscoliosis would be clinically important. The small coupled axial rotation in trunk list is in contrast to the considerable degree of axial rotation observed in structural idiopathic scoliosis.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

[Reduction of the radiation exposure of patients caused by selected interventional and angiographic procedures].

PURPOSE: To reduce patient doses caused by selected interventional and angiographic procedures using the digital C-arm unit "Multiskop". MATERIALS AND METHODS: After a patient study done previously, physical measurements with test phantoms were carried out, and physical-technical parameters such as distance between focus and image intensifier, additional filtration, and radiation dose per image were optimised. Then, the dose-area product (DAP) and the fluoroscopic time were measured for 130 percutaneous transluminal angioplasties (PTA), 40 PTA with stent implantation, 61 embolisations, and 302 digital subtraction angiographies (DSA). In the case of 16 PTA, 9 embolisations, and 38 DSA the number of radiographs was determined, and the DAP was divided into two parts, fluoroscopy and radiography. The measuring values were compared with data of the patient study done previously. RESULTS: The median values of the DAP and the fluoroscopic time amounted to 25 Gy cm2 and 9.7 min for PTA, 97 Gy cm2 and 8.5 min for PTA with stent implantation, 88 Gy cm2 and 17.2 min for embolisation as well as 54 Gy cm2 and 2.8 min for DSA. For the relation between DAP caused by fluoroscopy and radiography, and the number of radiographs, median values of 0.76 and 63 for PTA, 0.81 and 123 for embolisation as well as 1.85 and 134 for DSA were determined. In comparison to the patient study done previously the median values of the DAP were reduced by 31% for PTA, 26% for PTA with stent implantation, 55% for embolisation, and 38% for DSA. CONCLUSIONS: The comparison between the patient studies done previously and recently indicates the great potential of dose reduction for interventional and angiographic procedures. Although the X-ray equipment is ten years old the patient dose can be reduced by organizational and physical-technical modifications to such an extent that preliminary national reference dose values will not be exceeded. For further significant dose reductions while maintaining adequate image quality it will be necessary to purchase a modern X-ray equipment with pulsed fluoroscopy and automatic filter selection.

Angiography↗

PubMed1996

Validation testing of the SEER real-time digital holter monitor.

OBJECTIVES: Perioperative myocardial ischemia, detected by off-line Holter ST-segment monitoring, has been associated with adverse cardiac outcome. Technical advances in digital signal processing have facilitated development of digital Holter recorders that allow 24- to 48-hour recording, full disclosure storage, and "real-time" quantitative analysis of ST-segment levels. These recorders may be useful for "on-line" clinical detection of perioperative ischemia. However, little data are available, independent of manufacturers' claims, to validate their accuracy. Using a previously validated digital electrocardiogram (ECG) simulator, a commercially available device was evaluated. DESIGN: Laboratory bench study. SETTING: Not applicable. PARTICIPANTS: Not applicable. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Custom digital ECG waveform templates were programmed for use with a commercially available ECG simulator (M311 ECG simulator; Fogg Systems, Inc, Aurora, CO). For each template, ST-segment morphology (horizontal elevation or depression, downsloping depression), QRS duration (80 v 120 msec) and the presence or absence of a P wave were manipulated, yielding six unique QRS shapes. For each shape, the degree of ST-segment deviation was altered over a wide range. ST-segment values from the simulator (measured at 60 msec after the J point) ranged from +10 to -18 mm. The SEER digital Holter recorder (Marquette Electronics, Milwaukee, WI) was tested. One hundred twenty-six measurements of ST-segment deviation were input to the SEER at each of two testing sessions. The ST-segment value from the recorder in the "noninteractive" analysis mode was obtained, and the two results averaged for comparison with the expected simulator value. Variability of ST-segment measurement over a continuous 1-hour period of simulator input was also assessed. Sixty-seven percent of measurements were within 95% to 100% of expected, whereas 90% were within 90% to 110%. The regression equation for the complete dataset was SEER output (mm) = -0.47 + 1.015 * simulator input, R2 = 0.99. The mean observed-to-expected value ratio was 100% +/- 6% (+/-SD), range 80% to 114%. The mean deviation in millimeters from expected for all measurements was 0.10 +/- 0.20 mm, median 0.05 mm, range -0.25 to +0.60 mm. For the 72 measurements obtained by 5-minute sampling over 1 hour of continuous simulator input for each of the six QRS shapes, the mean percent difference between observed and expected values was 0.5% +/- 4.5%, median 0.0%, with a mean coefficient of variation of 2.7% (median 1.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Using a digital ECG simulator, it was found that the SEER recorder analyzed ST-segment deviation with a high degree of accuracy. These findings, along with its full disclosure reporting capabilities, suggest it may be useful in perioperative risk stratification. However, accuracy in the clinical setting remains to be validated.

Electrocardiography, Ambulatory↗

PubMed1991

[Quantitative coronary angiography: progression and regression of coronary stenoses--an intervention study with fenofibrate].

In order to examine the effect of fenofibrate on coronary narrowings, within the framework of a prospective intervention study, we treated a total of 44 hypercholesterolemic patients (who were in our clinic to undergo PTCA) with diet and fenofibrate (200-400 mg/day) over a period of 3 years. After a mean interval of 21 months, control angiographies were performed in nearly identical projections for 21 patients on clinical grounds. The minor and medium-grade narrowings of the reangiographed patients at the beginning and at the end of the intervention interval were measured by means of digital image processing and automatic contour detection. The measuring parameters were percent diameter reduction (% DR) and percent plaque area (%PA). With regard to their angiographic progression, the 21 reangiographed patients of the intervention group were compared to a comparison group consisting likewise of 21 patients of similar age and sex distribution and persistently high lipid and lipoprotein levels. During the intervention period, the reangiographed patients of the intervention group showed the following changes of the lipid and lipoprotein levels in contrast to the outset values: cholesterol -19 +/- 8%, LDL -20 +/- 14%, HDL +19 +/- 44%, triglycerides -30 +/- 31%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

PubMed1994

Recent technical advances in digital coronary angiography.

Digital coronary angiography systems are widely available in interventional catheterization laboratories. Although quantitative coronary angiography is an important and widely used endpoint for research and clinical trials, the capabilities of digital imaging now available are underused in clinical practice, and potential capabilities have not yet been developed or practically implemented. This paper reviews recently published technical developments in digital angiography and fluoroscopy, including radiographic dose reduction methods that have minimal impact on image quality, image processing and display methods for improving image quality, new algorithms and validations for quantitative coronary angiography, and methods for obtaining images of and analyzing the complete three-dimensional coronary tree. These advancements may lead to reduced radiation exposure, improved image quality, better automated stenosis quantitation programs, and extraction of new and useful kinds of information from the coronary angiogram.

Algorithms↗